Matplotlib Unit Labels - Time Series Mechanics

Check the Unit

Start with three task durations: Setup is 12, Clean is 18, and Check is 15. The x-axis label says task. The y-axis label says minutes. So the tallest bar reads as 18 minutes. It does not read as 18 dollars, 18 visits, or a unit-free value.

A tiny chart-reading step: check the axis labels and unit before reading plotted values.

highlighted = computed this step

Start with plotted values

Start with 3 pinned task durations.

\text{pinned durations}

Check axis labels

Check the axis labels before reading the chart: x is task and y is minutes.

\text{axis labels first}

Read with the unit

Draw the bars with minutes on the value axis.

\text{bars in minutes}

State the readout

Readout: Clean is 18 minutes, not dollars or visits.

\text{read with units}